The next day, the grand doors of the Student Council Chamber loomed ahead—dark oak polished to a mirror shine, the Caelumortis crest gleaming under the chandeliers.
Blanche led the way, her posture rigid but composed.
Yuxin and Ruka flanked her, both still carrying the subtle exhaustion from the past few nights.
Vila walked slightly behind them.
No longer an outsider.
Not fully trusted, perhaps—not yet.
But part of the team.
The doors swung open with a soft groan, and they stepped inside.
Silas Caelum sat at the head of the oval table, flanked by a few silent council aides. His sharp blue eyes immediately locked onto them, cool and measuring.
Without waiting for a prompt, Blanche stepped forward and bowed slightly.
"Council President. We have concluded our investigation of the eastern disturbances."
Silas nodded once, hands steepled before him.
"Proceed."
Blanche straightened. Her voice was steady.
"The anomalous Æther flow originated from an experimental Pacta under the jurisdiction of Lady Eloweth. The 'feather' found was a byproduct of this unstable creation."
She kept her tone neutral—professional.
"No evidence suggests direct malicious intent from the eastern faction leadership toward the Academy or its students."
Yuxin muttered under her breath, almost inaudibly, "Debatable..."
Blanche ignored her.
"Viridia Hollow serves primarily as an alchemical research center. Its activities, while covert, do not currently breach Academy law. Though minor unauthorized transactions among students were noted."
Silas's gaze sharpened slightly but he remained silent, letting her finish.
"As per our assignment, we refrained from escalating conflict. No further action is required unless new evidence surfaces."
She didn't mention Vila's personal attack.
She didn't mention the old wounds between the elf and the alchemist.
That was not part of the report. Silas tapped his fingers once against the polished table.
A soft, deliberate sound.
Then he spoke.
"Understood. Your team has performed adequately."
Blanche bowed again.
Silas's eyes flicked toward Vila, studying her.
He said nothing about her presence—accepting it without comment, which in Silas's world, was acknowledgment enough.
Silas remained silent for a long moment after Blanche finished her report.
Then, he offered a rare, almost imperceptible nod.
"You have done well," he said quietly. "The council—and myself personally—owe you a debt of gratitude."
Blanche dipped her head slightly in acknowledgment.
Silas gestured toward the side of the chamber, where a silver tray rested atop a low mahogany table.
"Sit," he said, tone softer. "Rest your feet. You've earned it."
Without waiting for an answer, he rose and personally poured from a delicate porcelain teapot—the Caelumortis family crest shining faintly under the warm light.
The scent of the brew filled the chamber immediately: floral, cool, and grounding.
A soothing aroma that seemed to pull the weariness from their bones.
He handed a cup to Blanche first, then to Ruka and Yuxin, and finally to Vila—who hesitated for a heartbeat before accepting it wordlessly.
Silas returned to his seat, taking his own cup in hand.
"This blend," he said, almost conversationally, "has been in the Caelumortis line for generations. It was crafted specifically to ease the mind after long hours of duty."
Blanche took a careful sip, feeling the subtle warmth bloom through her chest.
Ruka visibly relaxed, shoulders dropping slightly.
Even Yuxin muttered something approving under her breath.
Only Vila remained stiff, holding the cup but not drinking—watching everything with cautious eyes.
Silas let them savor the quiet for a few minutes before speaking again.
"Now," he said, setting his cup down gently, "regarding the broader situation."
His gaze sharpened slightly, though his posture remained deceptively relaxed.
"While the East Wing has been... accounted for, it remains likely that other factions are not merely bystanders."
Blanche nodded slowly. "You suspect wider interference."
Silas's mouth curled into a faint, humorless smile.
"In Asterblume, suspicion is survival."
He steepled his fingers.
"The North—Selene's faction—has been far too quiet considering the growing instability."
"The South—Vargan's syndicate—never moves without reason."
"And the West..." His eyes narrowed. "Kael's Iron Pit grows bolder with every passing moon."
The room felt colder again, the momentary peace receding like a wave.
Yuxin swirled her tea idly, voice dry. "So basically... Everyone's dirty."
Silas chuckled—a low, mirthless sound.
"That, Lady Zhen, is the only guarantee I can offer you."
Blanche set her cup down gently.
"Where do you want us to begin?"
Silas tapped two fingers lightly against the armrest of his chair.
"West. Kael Dymont."
His gaze flicked between them.
"Find out what he's hiding."
Silas tapped his fingers lightly against the armrest of his chair, as if weighing something in his mind.
Then he spoke, voice even.
"No further tasks will be assigned for now."
Blanche blinked once, surprised—but kept her expression neutral.
Silas continued, setting down his teacup.
"You've served admirably, Lady Equinox. I have no wish to burden you—or your companions—unnecessarily."
He inclined his head slightly, a rare gesture of genuine respect.
"Take this time to return to your studies. Focus on your growth. The Academy may soon require all your strengths... but not today."
Blanche placed her hand over her heart and bowed formally.
"Understood."
Silas's gaze swept over Yuxin, Ruka, and Vila briefly, then returned to Blanche.
"Rest. Learn. Be ready."
Dismissed with an air of finality, the group rose and left the council chamber, their footsteps echoing softly against the marble floor.
—
Back in Blanche's room, the atmosphere felt lighter—strangely so.
For the first time in weeks, there was no secret meeting to attend, no cryptic summons to answer, no mission hanging over their heads.
Just... normalcy.
Blanche slipped off her coat, setting it neatly on the chair.
Ruka flopped onto the bed, finally allowing herself to relax fully.
Yuxin leaned against the wall, arms crossed, but without the tight coil of tension she usually carried.
Even Vila, silent as ever, seemed slightly less guarded.
Tomorrow, there would be classes.
Lectures. Training sessions.
Just another ordinary day at Asterblume Academy.
For now, they could breathe.
Even if, deep down, all of them knew:
This peace would not last forever.
The quiet hum of the evening filled Blanche's room as they all settled back into the rare, precious stillness.
Vila sat near the window, her gaze distant, as if already half a world away.
Blanche watched her for a long moment before speaking.
"What about you?" she asked, voice soft. "Are you planning to stay... or will you return to Myrdvawein?"
Vila didn't answer immediately.
Her fingers brushed idly against the sleeve of her cloak, and her silver eyes clouded slightly.
Before she could say anything, Yuxin cut in, voice low but serious.
"You're not safe there."
The room grew heavier at her words.
Yuxin pushed off from the wall, crossing her arms tightly.
"That bastard who attacked me out there… he's probably still hunting. If you go back alone, you're asking to get picked off."
Vila's jaw tightened almost imperceptibly, but she didn't argue.
For a moment, Blanche seemed to consider everything—the danger, the loneliness, the weight Vila carried.
Then she smiled faintly, decisive.
"You don't have to worry about that."
She stood, the soft glow of the room's Æther crystals haloing her in pale light.
"I'll take care of the arrangements."
Blanche's voice was calm.
Certain.
Like it was the most natural thing in the world to simply... shoulder Vila's survival as part of her duty.
Vila looked up at her, blinking once.
There was something unreadable in her expression—a crack of surprise, maybe even gratitude—but as always, she hid it well.
Yuxin just grunted, turning her face away.
But the tension in her shoulders eased slightly.
For tonight, at least, the world outside could wait.
3 days later
Morning sunlight spilled lazily through the tall windows of Lecture Hall B.
Students bustled about, chattering, setting up their materials.
Blanche sat neatly at her desk, reviewing her notes.
Yuxin slouched beside her, flipping through her book with a bored expression.
The door creaked open—and the classroom quieted for a second.
Professor Myndrell cleared his throat.
"We have a new student joining us today. Please welcome—"
Yuxin didn't even look up at first.
New students weren't exactly rare.
But then she caught a flash of silver out of the corner of her eye.
She lifted her head lazily—and froze.
Standing at the front, dressed in the Academy's official uniform (though somehow making it look far too dignified), was—
Vila.
Expression blank as ever, posture straight, a textbook model of "I am here against my will but pretending otherwise."
Blanche smiled softly to herself, unsurprised.
Yuxin blinked twice, then sighed heavily, rubbing her face with one hand.
"Of course," she muttered under her breath. "Of fucking course."
Despite herself, a small smirk tugged at the corner of Yuxin's mouth.
Maybe this wouldn't be so bad.
Maybe.
Yuxin leaned over slightly, voice low but sharp.
"This is your fault, isn't it?"
Blanche didn't even glance up from her notes.
"If by 'fault' you mean ensuring Vila's enrollment through the proper channels..."
"Then yes."
She sipped her tea with a calmness that only made Yuxin want to flip her desk.
"With a few letters and the right seal from House Equinox," Blanche added lightly, "the Academy's administration was more than happy to fast-track her registration."
Yuxin exhaled loudly, slumping back into her chair.
"Gods, you're dangerous."
Blanche smiled serenely. "Influence has its uses."
Yuxin muttered something under her breath about "damn nobles" and "corruption at its finest," but she didn't push further.
Instead, she folded her arms and glared straight ahead, muttering:
"Whatever. I'm not getting involved. I'm not gonna be seen hanging out with her."
Blanche didn't bother responding. She knew Yuxin too well by now.
A few minutes later...
Professor Myndrell pointed to the open seats in the midsection of the room.
"Please take any available seat, Miss Vila."
Vila, silent as ever, scanned the room once.
Then, with no hesitation whatsoever, she made her way toward the middle row and sat down directly next to Yuxin.
Yuxin's eye twitched violently.
She stared at Vila out of the corner of her eye, willing her to get up and move.
Vila, utterly unbothered, pulled out her notebook with mechanical grace and began preparing for the lecture.
Blanche, sitting a row ahead, hid a smile behind her hand.
Ruka, across the aisle, just buried her face in her sleeves, trying not to giggle.
Yuxin took a slow, steady breath.
No yelling.
No cursing.
No dramatic exits.
She reminded herself:
If you explode now, your reputation as "scary and unapproachable" will nosedive into "dumb and unhinged."
So she clenched her jaw, crossed her arms, and muttered so quietly only Vila might hear:
"You're lucky I don't care enough to make a scene."
Vila, without missing a beat, replied in a voice barely above a whisper:
"I appreciate your mercy."
Yuxin stared straight ahead, expression dead.
"I'm going to regret this, aren't I?"